Automatic oil-pump regulator



July 8,.l930. c. MATLocK 1,770,213

AUTOMATIC OIL PUMP REGULATOR a' Original Filed Feb. 25. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l july -8, 1930- c. MATLocK `1,770,213

AUTOMATIC OIL PUMP REGULATOR Original Filed Feb. 25'. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

' ATTORNEY UNITED :STATES PATENT *0F-FICE. y ,MATLoCigon Yoan, N. Y., AssiGNon To ensomivn conronnirron, or NEW Yoan, N.Y., Aconrona'rion @DELAWARE y fA'UToMAfTIc ort-PUMP REGULATRY,

` 'App 1`icati 0nj1e d February 25, y1921, serial No.`447,s65. Renewed Marchesi, 19.29.

' Ihe present invention relates to the treatment of hydrocarbon-.oils and'4 more particularly to anapparatus'ffor providing acontinuous control of the `teniperature and other 5 factors governing the cracking of heavy hydrocarbons for the production of low boiling hydrocarbon liquids, particularly in con- .tinuousfnrocesses off-the type disclosed in Greenstreet Patent 1,110,92.

In' the transformation or cracking of Vheavy hydrocarbons to form?EL light :hydrocarbon liquids,\the degree of-cracking' and the prodvucts produced are governed the temperature"cdnditions' under which the transformationfis: carried out. kv'Ihus, too

high acracking` temperature very largely by produces an excessive quantity of gas. anda correspondingly low yield fof-the deSiredprOduCtS, whileA treatment at too low atemperaturedoes not producefa .sulicient quantity of the desired products.v f1

The temperature 'at which the transformation or cracking is carriedon isv determined very largeflyby the temperature'of the furv nace or 2other means used for heating the oil,

and in continuous processes for which the present invention; 'is` particularly suited,` is also directly controlledwithin certainlimvits'bythe rate atwhickr the oil is passed thru the heating apparatus, Thus,`if a given temperature is maintained in the furnace,the temperature `ito whichl the voil'is heated and vthe quantityof heat supplied tothe oil may be varied', by. increasing or decreasing the quantity Yof oilsupplied to the'treating apparatus, avlowertemperature, of course, be-

-ing `obtained creased. l

An object of the'presentV when the supply-.of -oil-'is ininvention is 'to ature in oil treating processes in which an increase in temperature above a delinite' lim-Y it or fa fallintemperature helowajdefinite limitwis' avoided. -f "i lAnotherobject.of the pres toi vprovide an apparatus for temperature and'fother conditions in oil treatent invention is controlling the ing processes byjwhich the conditions of treatment ofthe oil are automatic withinl definite limits,

allymaintained Vith these andlother objects in view, ythe invention consists in the method and apparatus described in the following specification and defined-in lthe claims.

rIhe various featuresk of theinvention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: f

Fig.1is a perspective view partlyin section of the kpreferred embodiment oftheprefsent invention showing the relation `of the-conll-"Ollll'fg apparatus to thepil vtreating apparatus, and

Fig; 2, is a diagrammatic sketch partly/ in'jfV section showing in detail ythe controlling f mechanism. .v

In the specific embodiment of theinvention illustrated Yin the Vaccompanying drawings,

the invention is :disclosed asappliedfto an apparatus for carryinglaon the ,process der'V scribed in Greenstreet Patent .No.A 1,110,924; In this process, the oil: to be treated is mixed i'ng passed thru the heated coils and upon leaving'the coils,the oil is immediately" chilled by contact with jets of water or'other.

cooling iiuid injecteddirectly vinto the z hot .oil vapors. In the normal operation of the process, the furnace is-kept at as even a temperature as possible, and' the quantity of oil supplied to the treating coils iscontrolled to obtain a. giyen ltemperature vand heat treatment of the oil during-'itspassage thru theV coils. Y 1.

e l In the present invention, vthe supply of oil Vto the treating coils is governed or controlled by the temperatureof the foil as :it leaves'the 'treating coils to maintain the oil within certain temperaturek limits `withinwhich thede- 'sired transformation yof oilis obtained. If f l the temperature of the oil falls 'to' the lower VYtemperature lin1it',1the ratecofsupplyof oil vThe products ci combustion pass-i supply, while if the oil rises to the upper' temperature limit, the rate of supply or" oil is increased by increasing the supply of energy to the apparatus for supplying oil to the coils.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, a supply ot oil is withdrawn from a source ot supply thru a pipelO by means ollv a pump l2 and is forced by the pump thru supply pi oe l-l to a header;` 16 from whic r it is distributed to a rnumber et branch pipes l8 leading to corresponding heating coils. The quantit ot oil supplied thru each branch pipe is coi rolled by means ot' valves 2O and the rate o'lv supply observed by means of meters Zlinsertefjl in the pipes 18. y'From the ne Q2, the oil thru connectl j pines number oi' treatin coilsl posi ioned in a furnace 28.

l. quantity ol seam i vnu.. 'from a ste-aiu header 3 to 'Laon or the pipes 2st thru corresponding steam pipes Si) and control valves Sil, the pressure of the steam being measured by means Vof a steam @auge c the header 20. The steam is ini; fd u" oil in A.the pipes and in the pas oil thru the coils serves from adhering to the inner wf and burning-to tormtree ea depositingl carbon. on the inner coils. Each portion of the oi L the coil at a uniform rate and'is subjected to the high"temperatures prevailing in the furnace for a definite period oi time. For any particular size of coil, the rate` of passage of the'oil and the time et its treatment is controlled bythe rate oli supply ot oil to the y coilan increased velocity and a shorter period otitreatment resulting from an increase `in the quant-ity of oil supplied.` From the coils 26, the treated oil or oil vapors pass thru connecting pipes 3S to a cooling header i0 into which iets of cooling water are injected tln'irinlet pipes rlie hot oil vapors cominto direct con'tact.w--..i the jets of water areinstantly chilled bythe `evaporzu-icn of the .u2-iter and the further cracking? ot the oil thereupon ceases. he chilled oil passes tromfthe cooling header Ll() thru vapor pipe elf-t and a pies-,are release valve i6 to a 'condenser not shown. The pressure ot the oil measured by means ot a pressure gauge i7 positionedwn iin' a control house and connected to the vapor pipe by mens ot a connecting pipe 49. The opening ot' the valve Li6 is adjusted bythe control house operto maintain the desiredv pressure in the pipe and gauge l? by means o'l a valve spindle extending into the control house.

Tie coils areheated to the proper temi" means of was or other iluid perature oy i supplied to the -ovrer part or" the furnace tiru number of fluid fuel burners 5l or 1iay be heated by means 0; coal or other solidffuel.

.,J' l $11 C N l" Contact uien the coils 2e a "nel thru a number of openings 52 into a central flue 53 from which they pass to a smoke stack 54. The temperature of the Jfurnace is maintained as uniform as possible thruout by adjusting the supply of fuel thru the burners 5l and adjusting the position ci: dempers 55 in the openings 52.

The temperature to which the oil is treated in each coil is measured by means of thermocouples 56 positioned in the-pipe 38 connectin the coils to the cooling header 40. Each olfthethermocouples 56 is connected thru leads 58 passing thru a suitable conduit 60 to a switch board 62. Each of the thermocouples may be separately connected to a galvanometer` 64 by depressing an appropriate switch 66 in the switch board 62. vThru this arrangement, the control house operator may at any time obtain an accurate knowledge of the temperature to which the oil in any coil has been treated.

The valves 2O in the pipes 18 are adjusted in accordance with the temperatures indicated by the thermocouples 56 and the galvanometer 64 to supply equal quantities of oil to each of the coils 26 and to thereby insure anequal heat treatment thruout all ot the coils. To guard against variations in the temperature of treatment of the ,oil beyond limits within which the desired reactions are, obtained, and particularly to guard against too high a temperature, a second galvanometer is provided which is all times connected to all of the thermocouples'and which, in turn, serves to control or govern the rate of supply of oil to the cracking coils. Thus, if Jfor any reason the rate ofV supply of oil should begin to decrease, a corresponding increase in the temperature .ot the treatment would result and the controlling galvanometer would immediately act to correct this action. It the temperature of thefurnaceshould increase beyond that normally provided for, the tendency to heat the oil too high would also be counteracted to a certain extent by the action ot the controlling thermostat in increasing the supply of oil. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the Vcontrolling galvanometer acts f to automatically correct the temperature variations in the treatment of the oil by increasing or decreasing the supply ot' steam to the pump 12, if the temperature of the oil undergoing treatment falls below or risesabove the limits of treatment. y

To this end, the thermocouples 56 are connected, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, thru connecting leads 66 to a controlling galvanometer 68/ having a needle or pointer 70 the position of which is governed by the temperature of the thermocouple in contact with the hottest oil. If the V'temperature ot any thermocouple should reach the upper limit for which the galvanometer is adjusted, the

'Ail

thereupon closed between a battery 74 connected to the pointer 70 thru a wire 76, in such ceV a manner as not to affect the coil of the galvanometer or the movement of the needle, and thru branch circuit 7 8 connected to the stop 7 2 to a return circuit 80 and solenoid 82.

If the ten'iperaturev ofthe thermocouples should fall to the lower limit for which the' galvanometer 68 is adjusted, the needle 7 O is deiiected to the right until it contacts with a second stop 84 which is in turn connected thru a branch circuit 86 and solenoid 88 to the return wire 80. In this manner, if thepointer or needle contacts with the stop 72 or the stop 84 in accordance with the temperature of the thermocouples, an electric current is passed thru the solenoid 82 or the solenoid 88 and these solen'oids are accordingly energized to operate the controlling device for the admission o steam to the pump 12.

The admission of steam to the pump 12 is controlled thru a control valve operated by av 'diaphragm which is actuated in one direction by the pressure of compressed air, or other fluids under pressure admitted from a supply ipe 90 to one face of the diaphragm and is operated inthe opposite direction by a spring bearing against the other :tace of the diaphragm when the pressure of the fluid is de creased. The admission of compressed air to the diaphragm from the supply pipe 90, isV

controlled by a valve 92 having a stem extending into the solenoid 88 andr forming a core therefor. The valve 92 is raised and opened thru the magnetization of its stem when the solenoid 88 is energized and is permitted to tall and closethe valve when the solenoid is deener-gized. To insure a kvery slow'admission of the air'and to avoid rapid changes in the rate otsupply of steam, a bleed valve 94 is provided thru which the rate of passage of air vmay be adjusted. When the valve92 is open, therefore, a supply ofioompressed air is slowly sent from the pressure supply pipe 90. `Vthru the valves 94 and 92 to a chamber 96, one' side of which is closed by a movable diaphragm 98. ted to the chamber 96, the diaphragm 98vis forced downwardly against the action of a ing 100 inserted between the ,under-face of the diaphragm gnanda support 102. yArs the diaphragm moves downwardly it carries with i p.; it valve lspindle 104 on the lower end of which is mounted a valvel or set of balanced valves 106 positioned in a valve chamber108,

thru `which steam passes fromasupply pipe 110 to the pump 12; As the valves 106 move ybranch pipe 18 to the coils 26 and as a result,-

As the compressed air is admit-v the temperature of the treated oil rises. The f admission of compressed air to the chamber 96 continues until the temperature of the` oil coming in contact with the thermostats 56 reaches `a .point at which the needle 70 of the galvanometer 68`is, detle cted tov the leftoutof Contact with the stop 84; and interrupts the circuit thru the solenoidf88. The solenoid is thereby deenergized and the valve 92 falls to a closedposition and stops the further passage .of pressure luid to the chamber96 .and diaphragm 98. y Y Y 1 It the temperature of the'oil continues to rise until it reaches a point corresponding to that at which theistop 72 is placed on the temperature scale ofthe galvanometer, ,the needle 70 `coming intocontact with threbstopA 72 closes the branch circuit 78 thru the ,solenoidV 82. As the solenoid 82 is yenergizedit. raises a valve 114 having the same relation to the solenoid 82y as the valve 92 has 'tothe' solenoid 88. vThe valve i114 is .arranged to control the escape ofiiuid from the chamber 96'thru an escapepipe 1v1/6, thevalve being openedwhen drawn into its upper position by thefsecond solenoid 82. A bleed valve 118 mayalso niovided vto control thel rate of escapeo'pt"V i Huid. As the fluid escapesfrom the :chamberV 96, the diaphragm 98 is forced upwardlylby the action of a spring 100 anddraws the valve 106 away from the valve yseats 11,2, perfmitting a greater supply of s'teamto the steam chamber-of the pump 12. A corresponding supply of Voilis thereupon 'forcedinto the coils -26 and the temperature 'fof treatment of the oil is accordingly lowered. ,i i' i y 'A handcontrolled valve 12.0, Fig.f 1,f is

provided to control the admission ,of steam toV `1. An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils which 4comprises a furnace, treating lpipes in said urnace,''a pump arranged to supply Y means in the outlet endszof salidpipes, a di'af phragm, means controlled bysaid diaphragm ting fluid under'pressureto' or for withdrawingiluid from said diapli'ragm. "V 7 Y ,2. An apparatus fortr"tinghydrocarbon oils which. comprisesaf ii ce,l treating pipes in Said furnace; .means for Vv[su'pplying oil to saidpipes,` means V'for measuring the temperatures to which said oil is treated in each of v y i oil to said' pipes, temperature' measuring said pipes, means -forcontrolling the distri-"7.V bution of oil to saidpipes and-means for au-Y tomatically increasingorV decreasing the sup-k s ply of oil to said pipes as the temperature of treatment of said oill increases to or falls to definite temperature limits in any one of said pipes to control the temperature of the oil in y said pipes.

3. An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils Which comprises a furnace, treating pipes in said furnace, means for supplying oil to said pipes, means for controlling the distribution of oil to said pipes, thermocouples arranged to measure the temperature of the oil from each of said pipes, a controlling galvanometer and means controlled by said gal- Vanometer to increase or decrease the supply of oil to said pipes when the temperature of oil from said pipes reaches definite temperature'limits in any one of said pipes to control the teniperature of the oil in said pipes.

4. An apparatus for'treating hydrocarbon oils which comprises a number of pipes, means for heating said pipes, an oil pump, means for distributing oil from said pump to said pipes, means for controlling' the distribution of oil to said pipes, means for measuring the temperature of treated oil issuing from each of said pipes and means governed by said temperature measuring` means to con- .trol the .speed of said pump to maintain said temperatures Within deiinite limits;

5.` In apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils including a treating pipe, means for heating said pipe, and a. pump for supplying oil to said pipe a control mechanism for said pump, said mechanism including a thermocouple positioned to measure the temperature of the oil in said pipe, a galvanometer connected to said thermocouple, an electric circuit-having branches, a solenoid in each of said branches, saidA galvanometer being arranged to close one of said branches when the temperature of said thermocouple reaches a maximum limit and to close the other of said branches when thermocouple reaches a lower limit, a steam supply to said pump, a diaphragm arranged to control the supply of. steam to said pump and means governed by one of said solenoids to admit fluid under pressure to said diaphragmand by the other of said solenoids to control the escape of fluid from said diaphragm.

6. In an apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils Which comprises a plurality of pipes adapted Ato be heated, means for suppying oil-to said pipes; means for measuring the temperature of'poil issuing from each of said heated pipes; and mffeans for automatically varying the supply of oilto said pipes in ac'- cordance with variation of temperature in theoil issuingV from any one of said pipes.

Intestirnony whereof, I afliX my signature.

" QHUNCEX 

